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Author Topic: What do you Peak at ?  (Read 4966 times)

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Offline steve4134

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What do you Peak at ?
« on: August 25, 2021, 12:44:19 PM »
Soooooooo in the past i run hot like peaking at -2 and a friend of mine told me i shouldn't do that and just increase my bit-rate and record at peak -12. Well i taped a show last night and it just sounds..........soft. I am curious what others do.

Steve
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Offline rocksuitcase

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2021, 12:48:18 PM »
There are probably many threads on this topic. When I bought my first bit bucket from OADE's, Doug said as long as the recording hits -12dB it will be fine as far as self noise etc.
By saying it sounds "soft" do you mean without bumping the levels in post with the DAW of your choice? as in, are you listening to the file from your portable device with headphones as opposed to over a PC/stereo?

BTW- when i first read your title, I thought of something 100% not taping. I have been known to PEAK at differing levels if you catch my drift!  >:D :P :P
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Offline seethreepo

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2021, 01:18:10 PM »
as high as possible without going over
or with less than 1 second overs. 
Sound best to me in every playback situation. 

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Offline fireonshakedwnstreet

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2021, 02:18:06 PM »
I am for -12 at 24 bit. I boost in post.
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Offline Gutbucket

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2021, 02:50:14 PM »
Depends on the situation, and the gear.

Don't go over.

How sure are you of that possibility, where over is, and what may be in store before you press stop?

Don't go too low.

Do you know were the noise floor of the recording environment lands with respect to the noise floor of the recording chain?



Is part of "the sound" one might be chasing overload saturation of an input stage or the tickling of a limiter?  Is that sonic contribution something you assume must me happening or do you really know it to be true from experimentation - done in such a way that you can be certain you aren't deceiving yourself?

How well do I know the material and venue?
Will I have the ability to readjust recording gain during the performance? Between performances?
How much do I want to avoid making recording gain changes during the performance?
How much headroom and footroom do I have, given the material, my recording chain, and how I set things?  Am I sure?
How much dynamic range is my "nominal 24 bit" real-world recording chain actually capable of encoding?  Do I actually know?
How accurately can I meter?
How much work do I want to do while recording? How much afterward?
How well do the limiters work on my gear? Are they transparent enough to use them at all?  How far dare I push them?
Have I been peaking way to low over the past few recordings? Going over consistently?
Do I feel lucky?
Do I have a feeling of "that's just about right" satisfaction?
What are my expectations for this recording?  What about the expectations of others?

Lather, rinse, repeat.

« Last Edit: August 25, 2021, 04:50:48 PM by Gutbucket »
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Offline morst

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2021, 03:43:18 PM »
THE CREEK!

HAHa sorry that's the old answer.
I roll with limiters and try to be sure they're not lit up for more than a blink.
If peak or limiter light is on solid, ya gotta turn it down.

In general for digital recording a live feed, it depends on the dynamic range of the program material, and how likely you are to be surprised by something way louder than what you heard when you set levels, but here goes:
Anywhere over -6dB gets you into the final bit, anywhere over -3dB is probably just trying to be perfect when it's not necessary.

Show up at soundcheck and ask them to play as loud as they can until you give 'em the thumbs up is another answer!? Requires some level of cooperation which is not always available.
Look out for people clapping.


Soooooooo in the past i run hot like peaking at -2 and a friend of mine told me i shouldn't do that and just increase my bit-rate and record at peak -12. Well i taped a show last night and it just sounds..........soft. I am curious what others do.



Oh no I just re-read your post. Bit Rate has zero to do with it. I hope you mean Bit Depth!
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Offline vanark

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2021, 03:46:06 PM »
I am for -12 at 24 bit. I boost in post.

This.
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Offline morst

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2021, 04:05:19 PM »
oh yeah, also if you are doing multi channel work, you want to leave a little space to mix them
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Offline mountaintaper

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2021, 11:46:28 PM »
I record in 32 BIT Float...I don't worry about peaks.

Offline daspyknows

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2021, 11:48:47 PM »
Usually shoot for -6DB

Offline opsopcopolis

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2021, 09:57:29 AM »
I am for -12 at 24 bit. I boost in post.

This.

+1. The days of recording as close to 0 as possible are no longer with us

Offline rocksuitcase

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #11 on: August 26, 2021, 10:40:30 AM »
I'm sort of disappointed in you'se. No one made fun of my joke!  >:D

For the OP: Are you listening back on the device it was recorded on? If so, try to put the file on a PC and boost to close to 0 as a somewhat adequate comparison point to your old recordings.
Let us know.
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Offline yug du nord

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #12 on: August 26, 2021, 11:16:14 AM »
BTW- when i first read your title, I thought of something 100% not taping. I have been known to PEAK at differing levels if you catch my drift!  >:D :P :P

I'm sort of disappointed in you'se. No one made fun of my joke!  >:D

as high as possible without going over

 :spin: :spin: :spin:

.....got a blank space where my mind should be.....

Offline rocksuitcase

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #13 on: August 26, 2021, 01:17:19 PM »
BTW- when i first read your title, I thought of something 100% not taping. I have been known to PEAK at differing levels if you catch my drift!  >:D :P :P

I'm sort of disappointed in you'se. No one made fun of my joke!  >:D

as high as possible without going over

 :spin: :spin: :spin:
SRSLY though, in context seethreepo did not intend to make the joke, either that OR they have amazing snark game!!!!!     >:D   
But, he was the first reply under mine, so now I am ashamed of my shameless attempt!  OR, you win- yug du nord!!!!!
Quote
as high as possible without going over   
or with less than 1 second overs. 
music IS love

When you get confused, listen to the music play!

Mics:         AKG460|CK61|CK1|CK3|CK8|Beyer M 201E|DPA 4060 SK
Recorders:Marantz PMD661 OADE Concert mod; Tascam DR680 MKI x2; Sony PCM-M10

Offline yug du nord

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Re: What do you Peak at ?
« Reply #14 on: August 26, 2021, 01:48:12 PM »
When peak level is reached, everyone wins! :guitarist:  :spin:  8)

Back to the topic.. IMO, if you have good meters that are accurate.. you can push it close to 0 when recording a PA since there aren’t usually big changes in dynamics.
If meters are limited or not accurate, I aim for -6.
If I can’t keep checking the meters, I aim for -12.

If there are huge swings in the dynamics of the performance, I aim for -12 or even lower based on the situation. Think crazy jazz dynamics coming straight off the stage.. they can be all over the place.

But I do agree that -12 is safe and just boost in post.
But I also prefer the sound of my rig running closer to 0.
In the end, it’s all good.. but I like it hot!!
YMMV.

Edit to add:  I run 24 bit and still prefer to run hot when possible.
« Last Edit: August 26, 2021, 04:21:13 PM by yug du nord »
.....got a blank space where my mind should be.....

 

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